The event was linked to the publication of a business opportunity assessment and brought together companies, research organisations and experts to examine Pirkanmaa’s role within the national and European security and defence ecosystem.
Key themes highlighted in the discussions included:
- High value-added competence areas identified in Pirkanmaa, such as sensors, autonomous systems, lasers and photonics, imaging, and microchips
- Goal-oriented scaling of subcontracting and company growth pathways
- The high innovation requirements of the defence sector and the need for long-term funding planning
- The role of universities and universities of applied sciences as RDI partners for companies
From TAMK’s perspective, the key message was clear: research and education organisations play a crucial role in enabling market-driven and internationally competitive business – particularly when technologies are dual-use in nature and require strong expertise in regulation, IPR and funding.
At the event, Aija Paananen presented the TAMK Safety and Security team’s experiences from joint research projects, reinforcing the need for even closer collaboration between companies, higher education institutions and funding bodies.
TAMK Safety and Security in Brief
The objective of TAMK Safety and Security is to strengthen:
- safe and responsible RDI activities
- preparedness, resilience and operational capability
- multidisciplinary collaboration and practice-oriented learning
The activity brings together the expertise of more than 15 multidisciplinary experts and over 15 externally funded ongoing RDI projects, typically operating at TRL levels 3–6. TAMK’s strategic goal is to significantly increase the volume of RDI activities by 2030.
What Does Safety Mean in Practice?
Safety and preparedness are not just individual measures, but a comprehensive approach based on legislation, foresight and competence.
Key reference frameworks include, for example:
- The Occupational Safety and Health Act – risk identification and a safe working and learning environment
- The Emergency Powers Act – preparedness for exceptional circumstances and continuity of operations
- Sector-specific legislation and EU regulation (e.g. NIS2, CER)
In short: preparedness is proactive and developmental, while legislation defines the minimum level that cannot be compromised.
Themes and Areas of Expertise
TAMK Safety and Security covers a wide range of themes, including:
- preparedness, resilience and first aid competence
- international business and risk management
- artificial intelligence, data, foresight and simulations
- smart manufacturing, robotics and dual-use technologies
- drone and UAV systems
- digital and physical security
- ethics, psychological and social safety
At the core is always the human element: competence, organisational culture and safety skills.
For Students: Learn, Participate and Make an Impact
For students, Safety and Security is visible in everyday activities through:
- RDI projects and project-based learning
- internship and thesis opportunities
- company collaboration, hackathons and technological challenges
- authentic learning environments and test-before-invest laboratories
An example of the educational offering is the new Master’s degree programme (UAS): Security Management in Organisations, which responds to the growing need for security and preparedness competence across different sectors.
For Staff: Collaboration, Projects and Networks
For TAMK staff, Safety and Security offers:
- a platform for new RDI initiatives and consortia
- support for funding applications (EU, national and regional calls)
- connections to companies, authorities and security networks
- opportunities to develop education and RDI activities together
The activities are closely linked to, for example, the Pirkanmaa security cluster and national and international networks
Join Us
👉 Join the TAMK Safety and Security RDI journey – and bring your partner network along.
For more information and contacts:
Written by:
Aija Paananen, PhD (tech.)
